Container assembly

ABSTRACT

A container assembly for use with heavy products such as meat or the like including a 90* nestable and stackable container body molded of plastic material having upper stacking parts extending along the upper edge portion of the end walls thereof and the adjacent end sections of the side walls thereof presenting substantially continuous horizontally extending stacking surfaces of shallow U-shaped configuration in plan and complementary lower stacking parts each including a horizontally extending portion of complementary configuration in plan to the associated upper stacking part disposed in vertical alignment therewith and a pair of continuous elongated wall portions extending downwardly from the horizontally extending portion throughout the horizontal extent thereof and providing substantially continuous downwardly facing horizontal surfaces and a shelf structure separately molded of plastic material having end supporting portions for engaging the upwardly facing surfaces defining the hand holes in the end walls of the container body and side supporting portions for engaging the upwardly facing nesting surfaces of the side walls of the container body, the shelf structure being removable and configured to be disposed in a horizontally stable stacking relation with like shelf structures.

United States Patent 11 1 Herolzer et a1.

[ CONTAINER ASSEMBLY [75] Inventors: Ralph H. Herolzer, Cincinnati;

Joseph Becknell, Hamilton, both of Ohio [73] Assignee: VanguardIndustries, Inc.,

Cincinnati, Ohio [22] Filed: May 8, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 358,331

[52] US. Cl 206/507, 206/509, 220/D1G. 15 [51] Int. Cl. 365d 21/00 [58]Field of Search 312/351, 330, 198;

220/97 R, 97 B, DIG. 14, 72, DIG. 15; 206/508, 507, 509, 515; 211/126;108/53,

1451 Feb. 11,1975

Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Cushman,Darby & Cushman [57] ABSTRACT A container assembly for use with heavyproducts such as meat or the like including a 90 nestable and stackablecontainer body molded of plastic material having upper stacking partsextending along the upper edge portion of the end walls thereof and theadjacent end sections of the side walls thereof presenting substantiallycontinuous horizontally extending stacking surfaces of shallow U-shapedconfiguration in plan and complementary lower stacking parts eachincluding a horizontally extending portion of complementary 108/5058configuration in plan to the associated upper stacking part disposed invertical alignment therewith and a 1 References Cited pair of continuouselongated wall portions extending UNITED STATES PATENTS downwardly fromthe horizontally extending portion 3,002,650 10/1961 Lovell 220/72 xthroughout h horizqntal extent thereof P 3,307,739 3/1967 Cloyd et a1.220/72 x mg substantlally Commuous downwardly facmg 3,327,896 6/1967Asenbauer 220/97 R zontal surfaces and a shelf structure separatelymolded 3,392,875 7/1968 Bockenstette 220/97 R of plastic material havingend supporting portions for 3,412,893 11/1968 Slapnik 220/97 R engagingthe upwardly facing surfaces defining the 3,460,899 3/1969 M11161 r312/351 X hand holes in the end walls of the container body and3,482,707 12/1969 We1ss 211/126 Side supporting portions f ngaging theupwardly 3,628,684 12/1971 Sere 220/97 R facin nesting surfaces of theSide walls of the 3,825,114 7/1974 Johnson et a1 206/507 g tamer body,the shelf structure bemg removable and FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPUCATlONSconfigured to be disposed in a horizontally stable 1,432,326 2/1966France 206/508 stacking relation with like shelf structures. 1,064,07112/1953 France 220/97 R 1,118,229 6/1968 Great Britain 220/97 R 13 14Draw"; F'gures J 2 32 C x 1: I :1 o 0 1 1 l 1: /30

I l 7 t /4 /8 "-2 1 -1 1 1 1 9 11 be f l 0 II ,Q 707" -0 1| 0 If 0 q] on IIJ: r24 I 24 .3 1 "1- '"F""# P 1- 0 511 24 o I ll 1 ll 7 IIZ IIZ'ZLZZZ y 1r r r 1 11 11 .1 1 l1 1 0 1 34' k I *6. J 0 ll 0 o 0 o r -1 ewe----r-- PEJENTED 1 5 SHEET QUF 4 LFIIII 'IIIIIIuIIIIIII 1 CONTAINERASSEMBLY This invention relates to containers and more particularly tonestable and stackable containers molded of plastic material for usewith heavy products, such as meat or the like.

Nestable and stackable containers molded of plastic material as aunitary structure are now in popular use throughout the supermarketindustry. These containers have been used to good advantage in handlingbakery products. One well-accepted container of this type is operable tobe nested in a like container when rotated horizontally 90 with respectto the first container. Examples of containers of this type aredisclosed in commonly-assigned Bockenstette U.S. Pat. No. 3,387,740dated June 11, 1968 and Rebka, U.S. Pat. No. 197,672 dated Mar. 10,1964. While these tray-type containers have proven quite satisfactoryfor use in handling relatively light bakery products, their constructionis not suitable for handling larger, heavier products such as meat. Thehandling of meat products presents a further problem in that theproducts come in various sizes and shapes and hence a container capableof handling products of this type must be of particularly ruggedconstruction and provide functions capable of accommodating various sizechunks or packages of meat prod uct. The type of individual load hereincontemplated is over I pounds, such as 110 pounds or the like.

One of the advantageous features of the bread trays disclosed in theaforesaid patents is that the stacking means provided thereon have theoperational capability of enabling a tray to be initially positionedover a like tray in laterally offset relation and then rectilinearlymoved with a sliding supporting action into a vertically aligned stackedposition. In order to provide this function, the end walls of thecontainer are provided with stacking rails along their upper edges whichcooperate with parallel stacking rails formed along the bottom edgesthereof. The particular arrangement is such that when the containerreaches its stacked position the cooperating stacking rails permit thecontainer to move downwardly into aligned stacked relation to be heldtherein against substantial horizontal movement in a stable fashion.

While this type of rectilinear sliding support into stacked relation isquite convenient, it does require the operator to initially transverselyorient the container on relatively narrow upper stacking rails. However,when dealing with a total container load of over 100 pounds, theprovision of stacking means which provide this initial transversealignment requirement cannot be conveniently met and hence theutilization of a stacking means construction which provides arectilinear sliding support action into stacked relation is notpractically feasible.

The present invention is based upon the basic principle that thegreatest operator convenience can be provided by constructing thecooperating stacking parts of the container so that substantiallycontinuous horizontally extending surfaces will be interengaged when afilled container is initially moved into a position over a containertherebelow in substantially any position slightly out of verticalalignment. By providing substantially continuous horizontalinterengaging surfaces in this fashion, the operator need not concernhimself about alignment in any particular direction while he is fullysupporting the total weight of the container. The

continuous interengaging horizontal surfaces permit the filled containerto be moved in any direction with a sliding support action into aposition of vertical alignment where the support of the upper containeris shifted to other surfaces and a horizontally stable stackedrelationship is obtained.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide astacking container molded of plastic material into a unitary containerbody having a nesting capability and improved stacking means thereonopera ble in accordance with the principles set forth above to obtainthe advantages thereof.

As previously indicated, a requirement for handling meat products is thecapability of handling loads of various sizes. This capability isprovided in accordance with the principles of the present invention byproviding a shelf structure, molded of plastic material separate fromthe container body, which has support portions extending laterally fromthe sides and ends thereof for cooperation with the nesting surfaces ofthe container body and the upwardly facing surfaces in the end walls ofthe container body defining the hand holes. The shelf structure is thusoperable to be moved into and out of supported relation within thecontainer body. When in supported relation with the container body, theshelf structure is capable of supporting as much as 50 pounds ofproduct. The shelf structure is configured so that when disposed out ofsupported relation with the container body, it can be positioned inhorizontally stable stacked relation with like shelf structures.

Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention to providea container assembly of the type described including a 90 nestable andstackable container body and a stackable shelf structure capable ofcooperation therewith to render the container suitable to supportvarious size meat products or the like.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a containerbody of the type described having a low-low side wall of improvedconstruction enabling the contents of the container body to be removedfrom the bottom wall thereof even when the shelf structure is utilizedtherewith.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision ofacontainer assembly including a container body and a shelf structureseparately molded of plastic material which are of simple but ruggedconstruction, convenient and efficient in operation and economical tomanufacture.

These and other objects of the present invention will become moreapparent during the course of the following detaileds description andappended claims.

The invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanyingdrawings wherein an illustrative embodiment is shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a container assembly embodying theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the container body forming a part of thecontainer assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the container body shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG.3;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are fragmentary sectional views corresponding to those ofFIGS. and 6 taken through the opposite side wall from that shown in FIG.3;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the shelf structure forming a partof the container assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an end view of the shelf structure;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of the shelf structure;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the shelf structure;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 13l3 ofFIG. 10; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 14-14 ofFIG. 9.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIG.1 thereof a container assembly, generally indicated at 10, in assembledrelation which embodies the principles of the present invention. Asshown, the container assembly includes a nestable and stackablecontainer body, generally indicated at 12, molded as a unitary structurefrom a suitable plastic material, such as polypropylene or the like anda shelf structure, generally indicated at 14, separately molded ofplastic material, such as polypropylene or the like.

As best shown in FIGS. l-3, the container body 12 includes a bottom wall16 of generally rectangular configuration in plan having a pair ofopposed generally parallel end walls 18 extending upwardly from the endsthereof and a pair of opposed side walls 20 and 22 extending upwardlyfrom the sides thereof between the end walls 18 and integrally connectedtherewith.

As previously indicated, the container body is of the stackable andnestable type and includes stacking means along the upper and lowerportions of the end walls for horizontally stably supporting thecontainer body in a vertically aligned stacked relation on a likecontainer body. The stacking means of the container body 12 is of aparticular construction which will be described more fully hereinafter.The nesting arrangement is of the 90 type and to this end, the sidewalls 20 and 22 are formed with a horizontal extent greater than thehorizontal extent of the end walls 18 and have recesses in the uppercentral portion thereof of a size sufficient to permit another likecontainer body to be disposed in nested relation therein, when orientedin a position of 90 horizontal rotation, to a depth sufficient to permitanother like container body to be disposed in stacked relationthereabove on the lowermost container body.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the recess in each side wall is of ahorizontal extent generally equal to the horizontal extent of the endwalls 18 so as to permit a single like container body to be nestedtherein. It will be understood, however, that it is within thecontemplation of the present invention to form the recesses with ahorizontal extent double that of the horizontal extent of the end wallsso as to permit a pair of like 7 containers in side-by-side relation toeach other to be mounted in nested relation therein.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the recess in each side wall serves to roughlydivide each side wall into a central section having a vertical heightapproximately one-half the vertical height of the end walls and an endsection at each end of the central, section having a height generallyequal to the height of the end walls. As clearly shown in FIG. 1, thecentral section of the side wall 20 is preferably of the low-low typewhich includes a pair of upwardly facing nesting surfaces 24 at each endthereof and a central recess 26 extending between the nesting surfaces24. The opposite side wall 22 provides a single upwardly facing nestingsurface 28 extending throughout the horizontal extent of the centralsection thereof. The end sections of the side walls 20 and 22 are ofsimilar construction, each providing generally vertically inwardlyextending surfaces 30 which serve to confine the like container body innested relation against transverse horizontal movement.

The stacking means of the present invention includes an upper stackingpart formed along the upper marginal edge portion of each end wall 18and the adjacent end sections of the side walls. As best shown in FIG.3, each stacking part provides an upwardly facing substantiallycontinuous horizontal surface 32 which is of shallow U-shapedconfiguration in plan.

The stacking means also includes a lower stacking part associated witheach end wall 18 which is complementary in shape with the shape of theassociated upper stacking part and the upwardly facing horizontalsurface 32 thereof. Each lower stacking part includes a generallyhorizontally extending wall portion 34 which is disposed above the lowersurface of the container body 12. Each wall portion 34 is of generallyshallow U-shaped configuration in plan, generally conforming to theshape of the associated stacking surface 32. Each wall portion 34provides a downwardly facing horizontal support surface 36 disposed invertical alignment with the associated upwardly facing surface 32 of theupper stacking part. Extending downwardly from the inner and outer edgesof the horizontal wall portion 34 is a pair of inner and outer dependingwall portions 38. The depending wall portions, as shown, are disposedgenerally vertically, although it is within the contemplation of thepresent invention that these walls diverge outwardly and downwardly.With the particular vertical configuration shown, the wall portions 38are strengthened by a series of horizontally spaced triangularstrengthening ribs 40. These triangular strengthening ribs 40 thusprovide upwardly and inwardly inclined guide surfaces for engaging theinner and outer edges of the surface 32 of the upper stacking parts toguide the surfaces 32 into aligned engagement with the surfaces 36 whentwo like container bodies are moved into stacked relation.

The depending wall portions 38 are provided with substantiallycontinuous downwardly facing horizontally extending surfaces 42. Thecontinuous nature of these surfaces and their configuration in plan areadapted to cooperate with the continuous upwardly facing horizontalsurfaces 32 to interengage and support an upper container body on a likelower container body in the event that the operator initially moves the.upper container body over the lower container body in a positionslightly out of vertical alignment therewith. Depending upon theparticular misalignment, certain portions of the surfaces 42 will engagethe surfaces 32 to support the upper container body on the lowercontainer body in the position of misalignment into which they have beeninitially moved by virtue of the configuration of the surfaces. Thesmooth continuous nature of these interengaging surfaces permits theoperator to slide the upper container body into a position of verticalalignmenet wherein the upper container body will drop down onto thelower container body until the surfaces 36 engage the surfaces 32.

It can thus be seen that the provision of horizontally continuoussurfaces of shallow U-shaped configuration both at the upper portion andlower portion of the container body within the stacking parts thereofprovides for a convenient stacking operation in which the operator ispermitted to interengage the upper container body on the lower containerbody in supported relation thereon without the necessity of effectingalignment while the weight of the upper container body (which may be asmuch as l pounds) is supported by the operator.

In addition to the stacking functions noted above, the lower stackingparts, including the wall portions 34 and 38 thereof and the associatedstrengthening ribs 40, also form parts of a continuous peripheralstructure which is connected between the bottom wall 16 and all of thewalls 18, 20 and 22 in a manner which materially aids in providing thenecessary strength characteristics enabling the container body 12 tohandle the heavy loads contemplated. With reference to FIGS. 5-8, itwill be noted that the extremities of the wall portions 34 and 38 whichextend into each side wall 20 and 22 are formed continuously throughouteach side wall so as to provide the aforesaid continuous peripheralstructure with a cross-section which is of generally inverted U-shapedconfiguration throughout the lower portion of the container body. As canbe seen in FIGS. 5-8, the portion of this peripheral structure extendingthrough the central sections of the side walls 20 and 22 are reinforcedby a plurality of horizontally spaced vertically extending ribs 44integrally joined to the wall portions 34 and 38 and extendingthroughout the interior space defined thereby.

This continuous peripheral structure is rigidly interconnected with thevertical walls 18, 20 and 22, each of which is formed of interiorimperforate panels having exterior intersecting vertically andhorizontally disposed strengthening ribs extending horizontallyoutwardly thereof. As can be seen from FIGS. 4-8, the lower edge of thepanels of each vertical wall is integrally interconnected to thehorizontal wall portion 34 adjacent the inner marginal edge thereof andeach vertically disposed rib has its lower edge integrallyinterconnected with the outer extent of the horizontal wall portion andextends downwardly along the exterior of the outer wall portion 38.

The connection of the bottom wall to the peripheral structure, ratherthan being rigid as with the vertical walls, provides a desirable degreeof flexibility between the bottom wall and the vertical walls whichprevents excessive inward deflection of the upper portions of the endwalls 18 when supporting loads of 100 pounds or more. With reference toFIG. 3, it will be noted that the bottom wall 16, like the verticalwalls, is constructed of an imperforate interior panel and a pluralityof intersecting perpendicularly interrelated ribs extending outwardlytherefrom. The peripheral edge of the interior panel of the bottom wallis integrally joined to the peripheral structure at the juncture betweenthe wall portions 34 and inner wall portions 38 thereof, however, eventhe outermost peripheral ribs of the bottom walls are maintained inspaced relation from the peripheral structure and are not integrallyconnected thereto. The bottom wall thus provides a peripheral webportion 46, defined by the outer marginal portion of the panel of thebottom wall, which may flex under load without transmitting the flexureresulting from the load to the vertical walls. This action materiallyaids in maintaining the alignment of the stacking parts in operation.Moreover, the resulting sectional modulus of the low-low wall 20 is ofavalue sufficient to provide the necessary strength therein withoutcollapse under the heavy loads contemplated.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 4, the central portion ofeach end wall 18 is formed with a hand hole 48, the lower portion ofwhich is defined by a rib having an upwardly facing horizontallyextending surface 50. The surfaces 50, as well as the nesting surfaces24 and 28, are adapted to support the shelf structure 14 withinoperative relation within the container body 12, as shown in FIG. 1.

As best shown in FlGs. 91l, the shelf structure 14 includes ahorizontally extending bottom wall 52, which, like the walls of thecontainer body 12, is prefer-- ably constructed of an imperforate panelhaving a multiplicity of intersecting ribs extending outwardly from theexterior or bottom surface thereof, the strengthening ribs includingribs defining the periphery of the bottom wall. The bottom wall 52 alsoincludes an upwardly extending peripheral wall 54 which provides theupper surface of the shelf construction with a recess which serves tocontain therein any liquids, such as blood or the like, which may bedeposited thereon during operation.

The bottom wall 52, including the upper peripheral wall 54, is of arectangular configuration in plan of a size to engage within theinterior of the container body 12. Extending outwardly from each side ofthe bottom wall throughout a horizontal extent thereof generally equalto the horizontal extent of the ends of the bottom wall is a sidesupporting portion, generally indicated at 56.

Each side supporting portion 56 is formed by a horizontal wall 58extending outwardly from the upper edge of the associated centralsection of the peripheral wall 54 and a parallel lower wall 60 extendingoutwardly from the lower edge of the peripheral wall 54. Thesehorizontal walls are interconnected by a series of horizontally spacedvertically extending strengthening ribs 62. Extending downwardly fromthe outer edge of the lower wall 60 is a vertical wall or flange 64which terminates at the horizontal level of the bottom wall 52. Hereagain, a plurality of horizontally spaced vertically extending ribs 66are formed integrally between the angularly related walls 60 and 64 andassociated peripheral rib of the bottom wall 52.

The shelf structure 14 also includes end supporting portions 68. The endsupporting portions 68 have a horizontal extent generally equal to thehorizontal extent of the hand opening 48 of the container body 12 andare formed by a wall extending horizontally outwardly from the loweredge of the peripheral wall 54. The wall defining the end supportingportion 68 is suitably strengthened, as by a plurality of horizontallyspaced, vertically extending triangular strengthening ribs 70.

It will be understood that the shelf structure 14 is adapted to be movedinto and out of supported relation within the container body 12 duringthe normal operation of the container assembly when it is desired tofill the container body with meat products having a relatively smallsize (Le, a size which will not fill up substantially the entire heightthereof). The shelf structure 14 is moved into operative supportedrelation within the container body by a simple manual movement whichincludes insertion of one end supporting portion 68 through anassociated hand hole 48 until the bottom surface of the former isdisposed in supporting relation with the surface 50. The shelf structurecan now be simply pivoted downwardly during which movement the oppositeend supporting portion 68 will move through the opposite hand hole 48until the lower surface of the end supporting portion 68 engages thesurface 50.

It will be noted that the vertical dimension of the hand holes isgreater than that normally provided in order to permit this downwardpivotal movement of the shelf structure into supported relation withinthe container body. This vertical extent is preferably at least equal tothe horizontal extent of the hand holes so as to enable the operator togrip the portion of the end walls defining the vertical sides of thehand holes during operation. This action is particularly desirable whenmoving a filled container assembly on the top of a high stack.

It will also be noted that the surfaces 50 are disposed at a levelsubstantially equal to the level of the upwardly facing nesting surfaces24 and 28. The slight offset between the level of these surfaces isaccounted for by the vertical position of the end supporting portionswith respect to the bottom surfaces provided by the side supportingportions. It will be noted that the lower surface of the side supportingportions 56 will engage the corresponding upwardly facing nestingsurfaces 24 and 28 provided by the side walls and 22 respectively of thecontainer body. The shelf structure 14 is thus supported in operativeposition within the container body 12 along each side and each endthereof. This four-sided support is of particular importance from astrength point of view, since the shelf structure 14 must withstandloads of up to 50 pounds or more.

It can thus be seen that in normal operation, the utilization of theshelf structure 44 in conjunction with the container body will bedependent upon the particular needs of the moment with respect to thesize of the meat products to be loaded. It will be understood that wherethe shelf structure is utilized, the shelf structure 14 will normally beremoved from supported relation with the container body during theunloading of the container body. However, it will be noted that theprovision of the low-low wall 20 enables the operator to easily removethe contents of the container body from the bottom wall 16 while instacked relation, even when the shelf structure is utilized.

It will further be understood that in transporting the containerassemblies back to the loading site, the container bodies are mounted innested relation and the shelf structures are configured so that they canbe mounted in a horizontally stable stacked relationship. To this end,an upstanding generally L-shaped stacking lug 72 is provided adjacenteach end of each side supporting portion 56. The specific loacation ofeach stacking lug 72 is related to a vertically aligned recess,indicated at 74, formed on the aligned lower surface of the sidesupporting portion 56 by the juncture between the flange 64, end ribs 66and associated peripheral rib of the bottom 52, as shown in FIG. 12.

It will further be understood that it is usual practice to run thecontainer assembly through a washing machine or the like periodically inorder to maintain the components in a clean condition. In order toprovide proper drainage when either of the components is supportedwithin a washing machine, suitable drain holes are provided. Withrespect to the container body 12, there are a multiplicity of drainholes 76 formed in the side wall 20. These drain holes extend throughthe interior panel of the side wall and communicate exteriorly with eachof the recessed exterior surfaces provide by the outwardly extendingribs. With respect to the shelf construction 14, a drain opening 78 isformed along one side of the peripheral wall 54 between each pair ofribs 62.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fullyand effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that theforegoing preferred specific embodiment has been shown and described forthe purpose of illustrating the functional and structural principles ofthis invention and is subject to change without departure from suchprinciples. Therefore, this invention includes all modificationsencompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A nestable and stackable container for meat and the like comprising aunitary container body molded of plastic material, said container bodyincluding a rectangular bottom wall, a pair of opposed end wallsextending upwardly from opposite end of said bottom wall, a pair ofopposed side walls of a horizontal extent greater than the horizontalextent of said end walls extending upwardly from said bottom wallbetween said end walls, each of said side walls including a centralsection of a horizontal extent greater than the horizontal extent ofsaid end walls and a maximum vertical extent generally equal to one-halfthe vertical extent of said end walls and an end section of a verticalextent generally equal to the vertical extent of said end walls betweeneach end of said central section and the adjacent end of the adjacentend wall, each end wall and the end sections integral therewithincluding complementary upper and lower stacking parts formed along theupper and lower extremities thereof, said side wall central sectionshaving nesting surface means formed in the upper portions thereof forsupporting a like container body disposed in a horizontally rotatedorientation in a nested position therein when said container body isempty to a depth permitting said container body to support another likecontainer body in said stacked position thereon above the container bodynested therein, the improvement in combination therewith which compriseseach upper stacking part being of shallow U- shaped configuration inplan, each lower stacking part including a horizontally extendingportion of complementary configuration in plan to the associated upperstacking part disposed in vertical alignment therewith and a pair ofcontinuous elongated wall portions extending downwardly from saidhorizontally extending portion throughout the horizontal extent thereof,the wall portions of said lower stacking parts providing substantiallycontinuous downwardly facing horizontal surfaces for engaging ahorizontal support surface to support said container body thereon, theupper stacking parts providing substantially continuous upwardly facinghorizontal surfaces for engaging the downwardly facing horizontalsurfaces of the lower stacking parts of a like container body when thelatter filled with a supply of meat of the order of pounds is moved intosupported relation thereon in a position of slight vertical misalignmentso as to enable the like container to be slidingly supported forhorizontal movement into an operatively stacked position of verticalalignment wherein the support of the like container is shifted to thehorizontal portions of the lower stacking parts thereof and the wallportions thereof are disposed in substantially horizontally surroundingrelation to the upper stacking parts of said container body to therebyprevent substantially horizontal movement of the like container body outof said operative stacked relation.

2. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein all of the walls of saidcontainer body are formed essentially of imperforate interior planarpanels having exterior intersecting strengthening ribs extendingoutwardly thereof normal to the exterior surface of the associatedpanel.

3. A container as defined in claim 2 wherein one side wall includes aplurality of wash water drain holes extending through the panels thereofin spaced relation to said bottom wall. v

4. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said end walls have handopenings formed therein the lower portions of which are defined byupwardly facing surfaces extending generally horizontally at a verticallevel substantially at the level of the nesting surface means formed inthe upper portion of said side walls, and a shelf structure molded ofplastic material separate from said container body operable to be movedinto and out of supported relation within said container body, saidshelf structure including a bottom wall ofa rectangular configuration tofit within the interior of said container body, side supporting portionsextending laterally outwardly from the central part of each side of saidshelf bottom wall throughout an extent generally equal to the enddimension thereof and end supporting portions extending laterallyoutwardly from the central part of each end of said shelf bottom wallthrough an extent generally equal to the horizontal dimension of saidhand openings, said supporting portions having downwardly facingsurfaces for engaging the upwardly facing nesting surfaces of said sidewalls and the upwardly facing surfaces defining the lower portion ofsaid end wall hand openings when said shelf structure is disposed insupported relation within said container body, said shelf structurebeing configured to be disposed in horizontally stable verticallystacked relation with a like shelf structure when out of supportedrelation within said container body.

5. A container assembly for meat and the like comprising a containerbody molded of plastic material including a rectangular bottom wallhaving a pair of opposed generally parallel end walls extending upwardlyfrom opposite ends thereof, upper stacking means along the upper edge ofeach end wall, lower stacking means along the lower edge of each endwall complementary with said upper stacking means so as to enable saidcontainer body to be supported on a like contain er body in a stackedposition of vertical alignment and to be stably supported in saidstacked position against substantial horizontal movement in anydirection out of said stacked position, said container body includingopposed side walls of a horizontal extent greater than the horizontalextent of said end walls extending upwardly from said bottom wallbetween said side walls, said side walls having nesting surface meansformed in the upper portions thereof for supporting a like containerbody disposed in a horizontally rotated orientation in a nested positiontherein when said container body is empty to a depth permitting saidcontainer body to support another like container body in said stackedposition thereon above the container body nested therein, said end wallshaving hand openings formed therein the lower portions of which aredefined by upwardly facing surfaces extending generally horizontally ata vertical level substantially at the level of the nesting surface meansformed in the upper portion of said side walls, and a shelf structuremolded of plastic material separate from said container body operable tobe moved into and out of supported relation within said container body,said shelf structure including a bottom wall of a rectangularconfiguration to fit within the interior of said container body, sidesupporting portions extending laterally outwardly from the central partof each side of said shelf bottom wall throughout an extent generallyequal to the end dimension thereof and end supporting portions extendinglaterally outwardly from the central part of each end of said shelfbottom wall throughout an extent generally equal to the horizontaldimension of said hand openings, said supporting portions havingdownwardly facing surfaces for engaging (l) the upwardly facing nestingsurfaces of said side wallsand (2) the upwardly facing surfaces definingthe lower portion of said end wall hand openings when said shelfstructure is disposed in supported relation within said container body,said shelf structure being configured to be disposed in horizontallystable vertically stacked relation with a like shelf structure when outof supported relation within said container body.

6. A container assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said shelf bottomwall includes an imperforate bottom panel having intersectingstrengthening ribs extending downwardly therefrom and a continuousperipheral wall extending upwardly from the peripheral edges thereof.

7. A container assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein a plurality ofwash water drain openings are formed in one side of said peripheral wallabove said imperforate panel.

8. A container assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein the configurationof said shelf structure providing the stacking function thereof includesa stacking lug extending upwardly from each end of each side supportingportion positioned in vertical alignment with a lug receiving pockettherebelow.

9. A container assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein each sidesupporting portion includes upper and lower horizontally extendinggenerally parallel wall portions extending outwardly from the upper andlower edges of said peripheral wall, a flange extending downwardly fromthe outer edge of the lower horizontal wall portion and a plurality ofhorizontally spaced vertical ribs integrally joined ion strengtheningrelation therewith.

10. A container for meat and the like comprising a container body moldedof plastic material including a rectangular bottom wall having a pair ofopposed generally parallel end walls extending upwardly from oppositeends thereof, upper stacking means along the upper edge of each endwall, lower stacking means along the lower edge of each end wallcomplementary with said upper stacking means so as to enable saidcontainer body to be supported on a like container body in a stackedposition of vertical alignment and to be stably supported in saidstacked position against substantial horizontal movement in anydirection out of said stacked position, said container body includingopposed side walls of a horizontal extent greater than the horizontalextent of said end walls extending upwardly from said bottom wallbetween said side walls, said side walls having nesting surface meansformed in the upper portions thereof for supporting a like containerbody disposed in a 90 horizontally rotated orientation in a nestedposition therein when said container body is empty to a depth permittingsaid container body to support another like container body in saidstacked position thereon above the container body nested therein, saidnesting surface means dividing said side walls into two end sections ofa height generally equal to the height of said end walls and a centralsection extending therebetween of a height generally one-half the heightof the end sections, the central section of one of said side wallshaving a recess formed in the upper central major portion thereof, therecessed portion of said one side wall including a structure of invertedU-shaped cross-sectional configuration, a plurality of horizontallyspaced strengthening ribs integrally joined to the exterior surfacesthereof and extending vertically throughout the interior space definedthereby, an integral vertical panel extending upwardly adjacent theinner edge of the inverted U-shaped structure, a horizontal ribextending horizontally outwardly from the upper edge of said panel and aplurality of horizontally spaced vertically extending ribs integrallyinterconnected with the horizontal rib, panel and adjacent invertedU-shaped structure.

11. A container as defined in claim wherein said lower inverted U-shapedstructure extends completely around the lower peripheral portion of saidcontainer body, said bottom wall being relatively flexibly connectedwith said peripheral structure by a peripheral horizontally extendingweb integrally joined therewith.

12. A container as defined in claim 11 wherein the part of saidinvertedU-shaped peripheral structure extending along each end wall and theassociated end sections of said side walls constitutes said lowerstacking means, said upper stacking means including the upper part ofeach end wall and the associated end sections of said side walls, saidupper and lower stacking parts having upwardly and downwardly facinghorizontal surfaces extending continuously through.

13. A container as defined in claim 12 wherein said end walls have handopenings formed therein the lower portions of which are defined byupwardly facing surfaces extending generally horizontally at a verticallevel substantially at the level of the nesting surface means formed inthe upper portion of said side walls, and a shelf structure molded ofplastic material separate from said container body operable to be movedinto and out of supported relation within said container body, saidshelf structure including a bottom wall of a rectangular configurationto fit within the interior of said container body, side supportingportions extending laterally outwardly from the central part of eachside of said shelf bottom wall throughout an extent generally equal tothe end dimension thereof and end supporting portions extendinglaterally outwardly from the central part of each end of said shelfbottom wall throughout an extent generally equal to the horizontaldimension of said hand openings, said supporting portions having downwardly facing surfaces for engaging the upwardly facing nesting surfacesof said side walls and the upwardly facing surfaces defining the lowerportion of said end wall hand openings when said shelf structure isdisposed in supported relation within said container body, said shelfstructure being configured to be disposed in horizontally stablevertically stacked relation with a like shelf structure when out ofsupported relation within said container body.

1. A nestable and stackable container for meat and the like comprising aunitary container body molded of plastic material, said container bodyincluding a rectangular bottom wall, a pair of opposed end wallsextending upwardly from opposite end of said bottom wall, a pair ofopposed side walLs of a horizontal extent greater than the horizontalextent of said end walls extending upwardly from said bottom wallbetween said end walls, each of said side walls including a centralsection of a horizontal extent greater than the horizontal extent ofsaid end walls and a maximum vertical extent generally equal to one-halfthe vertical extent of said end walls and an end section of a verticalextent generally equal to the vertical extent of said end walls betweeneach end of said central section and the adjacent end of the adjacentend wall, each end wall and the end sections integral therewithincluding complementary upper and lower stacking parts formed along theupper and lower extremities thereof, said side wall central sectionshaving nesting surface means formed in the upper portions thereof forsupporting a like container body disposed in a 90* horizontally rotatedorientation in a nested position therein when said container body isempty to a depth permitting said container body to support another likecontainer body in said stacked position thereon above the container bodynested therein, the improvement in combination therewith which compriseseach upper stacking part being of shallow U-shaped configuration inplan, each lower stacking part including a horizontally extendingportion of complementary configuration in plan to the associated upperstacking part disposed in vertical alignment therewith and a pair ofcontinuous elongated wall portions extending downwardly from saidhorizontally extending portion throughout the horizontal extent thereof,the wall portions of said lower stacking parts providing substantiallycontinuous downwardly facing horizontal surfaces for engaging ahorizontal support surface to support said container body thereon, theupper stacking parts providing substantially continuous upwardly facinghorizontal surfaces for engaging the downwardly facing horizontalsurfaces of the lower stacking parts of a like container body when thelatter filled with a supply of meat of the order of 100 pounds is movedinto supported relation thereon in a position of slight verticalmisalignment so as to enable the like container to be slidinglysupported for horizontal movement into an operatively stacked positionof vertical alignment wherein the support of the like container isshifted to the horizontal portions of the lower stacking parts thereofand the wall portions thereof are disposed in substantially horizontallysurrounding relation to the upper stacking parts of said container bodyto thereby prevent substantially horizontal movement of the likecontainer body out of said operative stacked relation.
 2. A container asdefined in claim 1 wherein all of the walls of said container body areformed essentially of imperforate interior planar panels having exteriorintersecting strengthening ribs extending outwardly thereof normal tothe exterior surface of the associated panel.
 3. A container as definedin claim 2 wherein one side wall includes a plurality of wash waterdrain holes extending through the panels thereof in spaced relation tosaid bottom wall.
 4. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said endwalls have hand openings formed therein the lower portions of which aredefined by upwardly facing surfaces extending generally horizontally ata vertical level substantially at the level of the nesting surface meansformed in the upper portion of said side walls, and a shelf structuremolded of plastic material separate from said container body operable tobe moved into and out of supported relation within said container body,said shelf structure including a bottom wall of a rectangularconfiguration to fit within the interior of said container body, sidesupporting portions extending laterally outwardly from the central partof each side of said shelf bottom wall throughout an extent generallyequal to the end dimension thereof and end supporting portions extendinglaterally outwardly from the central part of eaCh end of said shelfbottom wall through an extent generally equal to the horizontaldimension of said hand openings, said supporting portions havingdownwardly facing surfaces for engaging the upwardly facing nestingsurfaces of said side walls and the upwardly facing surfaces definingthe lower portion of said end wall hand openings when said shelfstructure is disposed in supported relation within said container body,said shelf structure being configured to be disposed in horizontallystable vertically stacked relation with a like shelf structure when outof supported relation within said container body.
 5. A containerassembly for meat and the like comprising a container body molded ofplastic material including a rectangular bottom wall having a pair ofopposed generally parallel end walls extending upwardly from oppositeends thereof, upper stacking means along the upper edge of each endwall, lower stacking means along the lower edge of each end wallcomplementary with said upper stacking means so as to enable saidcontainer body to be supported on a like container body in a stackedposition of vertical alignment and to be stably supported in saidstacked position against substantial horizontal movement in anydirection out of said stacked position, said container body includingopposed side walls of a horizontal extent greater than the horizontalextent of said end walls extending upwardly from said bottom wallbetween said side walls, said side walls having nesting surface meansformed in the upper portions thereof for supporting a like containerbody disposed in a 90* horizontally rotated orientation in a nestedposition therein when said container body is empty to a depth permittingsaid container body to support another like container body in saidstacked position thereon above the container body nested therein, saidend walls having hand openings formed therein the lower portions ofwhich are defined by upwardly facing surfaces extending generallyhorizontally at a vertical level substantially at the level of thenesting surface means formed in the upper portion of said side walls,and a shelf structure molded of plastic material separate from saidcontainer body operable to be moved into and out of supported relationwithin said container body, said shelf structure including a bottom wallof a rectangular configuration to fit within the interior of saidcontainer body, side supporting portions extending laterally outwardlyfrom the central part of each side of said shelf bottom wall throughoutan extent generally equal to the end dimension thereof and endsupporting portions extending laterally outwardly from the central partof each end of said shelf bottom wall throughout an extent generallyequal to the horizontal dimension of said hand openings, said supportingportions having downwardly facing surfaces for engaging (1) the upwardlyfacing nesting surfaces of said side walls and (2) the upwardly facingsurfaces defining the lower portion of said end wall hand openings whensaid shelf structure is disposed in supported relation within saidcontainer body, said shelf structure being configured to be disposed inhorizontally stable vertically stacked relation with a like shelfstructure when out of supported relation within said container body. 6.A container assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said shelf bottomwall includes an imperforate bottom panel having intersectingstrengthening ribs extending downwardly therefrom and a continuousperipheral wall extending upwardly from the peripheral edges thereof. 7.A container assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein a plurality of washwater drain openings are formed in one side of said peripheral wallabove said imperforate panel.
 8. A container assembly as defined inclaim 5 wherein the configuration of said shelf structure providing thestacking function thereof includes a stacking lug extending upwardlyfrom each end of each side supporting portion positioned in verticalalIgnment with a lug receiving pocket therebelow.
 9. A containerassembly as defined in claim 5 wherein each side supporting portionincludes upper and lower horizontally extending generally parallel wallportions extending outwardly from the upper and lower edges of saidperipheral wall, a flange extending downwardly from the outer edge ofthe lower horizontal wall portion and a plurality of horizontally spacedvertical ribs integrally joined ion strengthening relation therewith.10. A container for meat and the like comprising a container body moldedof plastic material including a rectangular bottom wall having a pair ofopposed generally parallel end walls extending upwardly from oppositeends thereof, upper stacking means along the upper edge of each endwall, lower stacking means along the lower edge of each end wallcomplementary with said upper stacking means so as to enable saidcontainer body to be supported on a like container body in a stackedposition of vertical alignment and to be stably supported in saidstacked position against substantial horizontal movement in anydirection out of said stacked position, said container body includingopposed side walls of a horizontal extent greater than the horizontalextent of said end walls extending upwardly from said bottom wallbetween said side walls, said side walls having nesting surface meansformed in the upper portions thereof for supporting a like containerbody disposed in a 90* horizontally rotated orientation in a nestedposition therein when said container body is empty to a depth permittingsaid container body to support another like container body in saidstacked position thereon above the container body nested therein, saidnesting surface means dividing said side walls into two end sections ofa height generally equal to the height of said end walls and a centralsection extending therebetween of a height generally one-half the heightof the end sections, the central section of one of said side wallshaving a recess formed in the upper central major portion thereof, therecessed portion of said one side wall including a structure of invertedU-shaped cross-sectional configuration, a plurality of horizontallyspaced strengthening ribs integrally joined to the exterior surfacesthereof and extending vertically throughout the interior space definedthereby, an integral vertical panel extending upwardly adjacent theinner edge of the inverted U-shaped structure, a horizontal ribextending horizontally outwardly from the upper edge of said panel and aplurality of horizontally spaced vertically extending ribs integrallyinterconnected with the horizontal rib, panel and adjacent invertedU-shaped structure.
 11. A container as defined in claim 10 wherein saidlower inverted U-shaped structure extends completely around the lowerperipheral portion of said container body, said bottom wall beingrelatively flexibly connected with said peripheral structure by aperipheral horizontally extending web integrally joined therewith.
 12. Acontainer as defined in claim 11 wherein the part of said invertedU-shaped peripheral structure extending along each end wall and theassociated end sections of said side walls constitutes said lowerstacking means, said upper stacking means including the upper part ofeach end wall and the associated end sections of said side walls, saidupper and lower stacking parts having upwardly and downwardly facinghorizontal surfaces extending continuously through.
 13. A container asdefined in claim 12 wherein said end walls have hand openings formedtherein the lower portions of which are defined by upwardly facingsurfaces extending generally horizontally at a vertical levelsubstantially at the level of the nesting surface means formed in theupper portion of said side walls, and a shelf structure molded ofplastic material separate from said container body operable to be movedinto and out of supported relation within said container body, sAidshelf structure including a bottom wall of a rectangular configurationto fit within the interior of said container body, side supportingportions extending laterally outwardly from the central part of eachside of said shelf bottom wall throughout an extent generally equal tothe end dimension thereof and end supporting portions extendinglaterally outwardly from the central part of each end of said shelfbottom wall throughout an extent generally equal to the horizontaldimension of said hand openings, said supporting portions havingdownwardly facing surfaces for engaging the upwardly facing nestingsurfaces of said side walls and the upwardly facing surfaces definingthe lower portion of said end wall hand openings when said shelfstructure is disposed in supported relation within said container body,said shelf structure being configured to be disposed in horizontallystable vertically stacked relation with a like shelf structure when outof supported relation within said container body.